Director, Corporate Affairs (Finance)

Job Description

Job Description:

The Corporate Affairs (CA) team of Mars Global Services (MGS) leads the communications and engagement activities of the shared services group within Mars, Incorporated. The global CA team supports the Mars Global Services objective to make work easier across Mars. With 3,000 Associates and 7,000 external partners worldwide, MGS is the powerful operational engine for Mars – creating conditions where our Associates maximize their impact and MGS innovates and scales to drive performance.

The MGS Finance group comprises 400 Associates and 900 business partner organizations worldwide. With eight diverse areas of accountability – across all there is a need to drive simplification and standardization, enable technology, and drive transformation and change. Key areas of accountability include: Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General Accounting, Intercompany transaction processing, Trade Accounting, Fixed Assets, Payroll, Travel & Expense, and Supply Chain Finance. The communications leader in this role will have an energy and passion for driving change through high quality communications. They will be adept working in a global, multi-functional environment.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline (e.g., Communications, Journalism, Business, Management, Finance, etc.) is preferred.

• Well-rounded business partner with prior professional experience executing most of the responsibilities identified (e.g., communications strategy, planning, and execution; stakeholder engagement) is required.

• Experience with finance transformation communications

• Experience or familiarity with global business / shared services organizations

• Experience working in a global environment with senior leaders of various countries and cultures

• Strong business acumen and experience driving business-to-business communications

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, sound business judgement, and an entrepreneurial spirit

• Extensive skill in planning and project management, strategic thinking, and in maintaining composure under pressure while meeting multiple deadlines

• Critical thinking skills and good judgement

• History of managing communications firms

• Must be able to demonstrate organizational agility and a successful track record of delivery in a complex matrix business environment

• Prior experience supporting finance functions highly desirable

What will be your key responsibilities?

Business-to-Business Communications
As the communications lead for Finance, the Associate in this role will work closely with MGS Finance leaders to communicate with segment and functional leaders across Mars about the capabilities and contributions of the MGS Finance team. This will include forming clear communication strategies on the transformation underway within MGS Finance with the intent to drive recognition and support of MGS Finance. The role requires excellent understanding of how to market services within a business, as well as the ability to measure impact and results of communications activities.

Communications Strategy
Lead development of the storyline and narrative for MGS Finance via a omni-channel communications strategy that takes Into account various stakeholders both Internally and externally. This leader plays a critical role to develop communications that galvanize support for the future of MGS Finance globally -- across many levels of audiences including Associates, leaders, suppliers, and partners. All this strategy with supporting tools such as key messaging, communications calendar, and metrics.

Associate Communications
The Associate in this role will work with the Global VP of MGS Finance to develop and execute communications that drive engagement of Finance Associates. Initially this may focus intensely on the need to unite the MGS Finance team and forge a group identity – i.e., leveraging recent efforts to name and brand the service line – while forwarding the MGS vision for all Associates to act in a collaborative manner that supports the notion they are “one MGS”.

Change Communications Planning & Implementation
A critical responsibility will be to partner with the change management leads of key Finance deployments impacting various Associates, drive development of their communications strategies and, where possible, support roll out of those initiatives. Deployments known to need support in the coming year include a new global model for delivering financial information, a working capital analytics pilot and automation initiatives.

For large change communication programs, external agencies may be retained to support the communications needs of the project and the person in this role must have an ability to review agencies, craft and manage budgets, measure work and otherwise command agency resources.

Agency Management
The Corporate Affairs team has several relationships with agencies that provide targeted support on an as-needed basis to MGS and its business lines. The Associate in this role will need to know when to engage these resources on behalf of the MGS Finance teams, thinking critically about the quality delivered.

Writing, Editing & Messaging

The Associate in this role will be responsible for a range of written documents required of MGS Finance throughout the year including, but not limited to, stories for the Mars intranet equivalent; presentations to business partners in the segments and functions of Mars; annual reports on operating plans; letters or emails to MFS Associates. An ability to work with MGS Finance leaders to craft core messages then transfer those messages into critical communication vehicles (e.g., talking points, ppt presentations, word documents, letters, etc.) is therefore essential.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#LI-Hybrid

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.